Target Practice: Trouble Spot Toning Exercises

How This Workout Works

Dedicated to dumbbells and crunching like crazy but still not seeing results where it counts? Drop the weights and ditch the sit-ups; we've found the perfect workout you can do anywhere to blast your biggest flab zones. "Each of these exercises tones a big-payoff muscle in ways your usual reps often miss," says Nadia Zaki, an instructor at Equinox Fitness Clubs in New York City, who compiled these eight effective firmers from her signature Inner Strength class to help you carve out cuts and curves better than ever before. Do the routine on three nonconsecutive days a week and watch problem areas go poof!

Start on ground in full push-up position, balancing on hands and feet with arms extended, body a straight line from head to heels.

Move into side plank, shifting body weight to left hand and rotating body to extend right arm directly up, palm forward, as you bring extended left leg under torso and to right. Pulse left leg up and down 1 inch, 5 times.

Perky Pendulum

Trouble Zone: Butt

Why it hits the spot: In squats and other butt firmers, supporting muscles, such as the quads, are giving your booty a break. With your leg fully extended in midair, all the lift is coming from the glutes.

Targets: Back, butt, and hamstrings

Stand with feet together, arms by sides.

Extend right arm (parallel to ground) and right leg (as high as you can) behind you, rotating body slightly so that right hip faces up, foot flexed; extend left arm diagonally up in front of you.

Slowly hinge at hips to tilt torso forward, keeping right leg lifted behind you and reaching left fingertips toward ground.

Lookout Lunge

Trouble Zone: Thighs

Why it hits the spot: When you shift most of your body weight onto your front leg while folding your torso over it, the inner and outer thigh muscles of that leg take on a bigger load for a longer duration than in a traditional upright lunge.